A Special Olympics Ontario floor hockey team finally got to meet the middle school students who helped fund their trip to the Special Olympics Canada Winter Games Thunder Bay 2020.

The Peterborough Wolves – made up of 12 athletes and three coaches – visited the grade seven and eight students at Thunder Bay’s Bishop E.Q. Jennings School Tuesday afternoon.

“Without support from community members like yourself… these Games wouldn’t happen,” head coach Ron Cambridge told the students and teachers gathered for a special assembly. 

In the lead up to the 2020 Winter Games, the 270 students pledged door-to-door, sold crafts at a Christmas store and hosted a dance-a-thon, while staff donated money on Dress Down Fridays. The school raised $5,000 for the team.

Bishop E.Q. Jennings is one of more than 20 schools within the Thunder Bay Catholic District School Board that raised funds for Special Olympics athletes across Canada. In total, the board raised more than $22,000, drafting 27 athletes and two teams competing at the 2020 Games.

“The fact that we’re hosting the Special Olympics Canada Winter Games in our hometown is awesome,” said Bishop E.Q. Jennings Principal Cynthia Gordon. “As a school board, we decided that we wanted to help the event.”

While the board and its students are proud of their achievements, the highlight was getting to meet the team on Tuesday.

“To see the impact they’re having – the fact that we’re able to have the team here is great,” added Gordon.
Students formed a high-five train with the team on their way into the assembly, before Cambridge and the players took the stage.

“You are excellent ambassadors of Special Olympics,” Cambridge told the students “As you move on to high school, university and your career, keep Special Olympics in mind.”

As a token of their appreciation, the team handed out a signed jersey and Peterborough pins.

“You are forever part of Peterborough’s team now,” said Cambridge.